TRANSFER BATTLES: Carroll, Kolarov, Tevez, Mkhitaryan, Mikel Obi, Gattuso, El Shaarawy, Gundogan

Andy Carroll has completed a permanent move to West Ham and the striker is looking forward to a bright future with the West London club.

The striker spent last season on loan at Upton Park from Liverpool and passed a medical on Tuesday before putting pen to paper on a six-year, £100,000-a-week deal which could be extended by a further two years.

Carroll will cost the Hammers a record £15.5million, which represents a £20m loss for the Anfield club who signed the England international from Newcastle in 2011.

'It was massive, the fans, the lads and the club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.'It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,' he told West Ham TV.

'It's been a few weeks since the end of the season, I've had a lot of time to think. I've been away from the club, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can only get better for us.

'The way the club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up.'



Juventus have revived interest in Aleksandar Kolarov at Manchester City. The Italians have already discussed a £9million move for his City teammate Carlos Tevez.

Juventus, who won last season's Serie A title by nine points ahead of runners-up Napoli, see utility player Kolarov as a perfect addition to give their squad strength in depth.



Tevez has been a long-term target for the Italian giants, and despite scoring 17 goals for the Premier League runners-up last term questions still remain over his happiness to stay at the club.

Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin claims there has been no approach from Liverpool for in-demand midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan - but they would be willing to listen to offers.

The 24-year-old has emerged as the Reds' major transfer target this summer and reports have suggested he could be available for £22million.

Mkhitaryan set a Ukrainian league record with 25 goals last season and while Shakhtar are keen to hang onto their prize asset Palkin suggested he would be available for the right price.

'As you know, there have been too many different conversations about Henrik Mkhitaryan,' he told Russian newspaper Izvestia.

'But the situation has been strongly and artificially inflated. I can say that we have had no communication from any member of Liverpool.

'Henrikh is an important player in our team. Shakhtar want to keep him but we are willing to listen and consider all proposals for his transfer.

'We have already parted with Willian and Fernandinho but the club will not just sell players.

'Soon we will also strengthen ourselves with quality players, designed to replace those who have left.'



John Mikel Obi is set to move to Galatasaray and says he is confident that the Turkish side will agree a deal with Chelsea over a transfer fee.

The Nigerian midfielder asked former Blues striker Didier Drogba for advice about moving to the club.

Mikel says he has spent a long time at Chelsea and is looking forward to life in Istanbul.



'I'm very pleased with Galatasaray's offer,' Mikel told Sabah, a daily Turkish newspaper.

'I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move.

'I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it's now time for me to leave.

'I'm still only 26 and it's great to receive an offer from a club (Galatasaray) playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.'



He continued: 'Talks have reached an advanced level between Chelsea and Galatasaray. Chelsea won't make the move difficult and regarding my salary there won't be a problem.

'All that is left is for the clubs to reach an agreement.'

Former Italy and AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed Palermo manager with the task of steering the relegated team straight back to Serie A, the club said on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old, who won a host of honours including two Champions Leagues and the 2006 World Cup as a player, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a two-year extension.

'Palermo... has entrusted Gennaro Gattuso with the charge of leading the Rosanero's first team,' Palermo said on their official website.

Monaco are keen on bringing Stephan El Shaarawy to the principality and, according to the Daily Star, are mulling a £51 million bid for both the Italy international and Ghanaian playmaker Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The newly-promoted Ligue 1 side, backed by the billions of potash magnate Dmitry Rybolovlev, have already splashed out €130 million to land ex-Porto duo James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao while also inking defender Ricardo Carvalho on a free transfer.

Real Madrid are yet to appoint a replacement for departed manager Jose Mourinho, but the vacancy has not prevented the club from going after some of the brightest talents in the game—among them Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The 22-year-old Germany international made an impression on the Madrid supremos during a Champions League tie between the two clubs in the spring, and according to Ruben Jimenez of Marca the capital side are willing to part with upwards of €25 million for his signature.